Man United manager Erik ten Hag told Noa Lang to ‘shut up’ before Arsenal and Leeds interest, he ‘made Belgian football hot’ and wants Real Madrid move after AC Milan transfer

Netherlands international Noa Lang said he ‘made Belgium football hot’ and is destined for Real Madrid three years after being told to ‘shut up’ by an ‘angry’ Erik ten Hag.

The 22-year-old winger is in the Dutch squad for their upcoming Nations League games, having recently revealed he was the subject of interest from Arsenal and Leeds.

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The Club Brugge star had shone in a Champions League group containing Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the season, earning links with Liverpool and AC Milan.

Reports in Italy claim he’s now a certainty to join the latter, after he himself revealed Arsenal tried to sign him as a Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang replacement, and Leeds made three offers for his services.

Lang is set to feature in the Netherlands fixtures against Belgium and Wales, but is already making a name for himself in the press with some bold comments.

Speaking about his impending departure from Brugge, he said: “I made Belgian football hot. I honestly think so. Children aged six to seven now know Club Brugge. 

“In the Netherlands people suddenly look at your competition. That was not the case before I played at Club [Brugge]. 

“Believe me: Belgium is going to miss me when I’m gone. I have coloured your football.”

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“Next season you will pray that there will be a Noa Lang walking around in Belgium, who can also play football as well. Only…. you will hardly find it. 

“No, seriously, my successor is already ready with [17-year-old Antonio] Nusa. I sometimes jokingly say to him, ‘You’re the only one who gets to wear number 10 after me’. Because I don’t know if others will be able to handle that. They have big shoes to fill.

“I am an entertainer. People come to the stadium for guys like me. And that finger on my mouth [celebration] has kind of become my signature, because I know how much that does to people. I also enjoy that sensation.

“[I’m] one who plays Champions League and reaches the top. I am 22 and have all the time. 

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“I don’t have to go to Real Madrid right away, that step is incredibly big. I first want to perform well elsewhere and then sign as a big boy at the absolute top of the world. I’ll get there, I’m convinced. I can’t deny that Milan is interested.”

Some bold statements indeed, but one club Lang certainly won’t be making it at any time soon is Manchester United, due to his relationship with new manager Ten Hag.

The Holland-born star broke through at Amsterdam giants Ajax, registering four goals in 14 games.

Those numbers may sound good for what was an emerging teenager, but they weren’t enough for Ten Hag, who once gave Lang a humiliating public dressing down.

During a 4-3 Dutch cup win over Telstar in 2019 in which Lang scored his first goal, Ten Hag went after the tricky winger, with his words picked up on camera.

“Noa! You have to run deep!” Ten Hag was seen shouting before getting a reply. 

“You have to shut up, you have to listen, you just need to do it. 

The new United boss was interrupted again and said: “No! Cut it out, it’s our game not yours.”

Lang was loaned to FC Twente a month later in the January transfer window, before being sold to Brugge in 2021.

He later opened up on his relationship with Ten Hag, saying he never wants to speak to him again.

“It is clear that things were not right between the trainer and me,” the Dutchman explained. 

“Everyone loved me at Ajax, except for one person. 

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“Many people think I am a funny, cheerful little guy who can also play football well. However, not everyone could do with that. The moment I indicated that a transfer would be better, I was no longer in the trainer’s plans.

“I wanted to be loaned, but he was so angry that he wanted to sell me. Not the management, but the trainer got his way. 

“No, I never spoke to him again and I don’t want to. A new chapter has started and I’m going to make it a success.”